Texas School Board's Bible-Based Reading List

0:00It's April 8th. Welcome in. This is Dallas News Today, where local news meets AI. I'm Cory with the story. Texas School Board is pushing a new reading list for public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, and it includes several Bible stories as required reads. Think Jonah and the Whale for 7th graders, David and Goliath for English, one, and the prodigal son for 1st graders mixed in with classics like Little Red Riding Hood and the Odyssey. This comes as part of a bigger push for literary enrichment, tying into Texas laws like the Baby Moses Law and Good Samaritan Law that reference Bible. Tales. Supporters say it's about building knowledge, so kids get illusions and works like Martin Luther King Jr.'s letters, not preaching faith. Folks are split hard on this. Board members insist they're just using old and new testament texts for context, while opponents fire back with the 1st Amendment's establishment. Clause, arguing it crosses the line into promoting religion in class.

1:00Texas already has an optional Bible inclusive curriculum for younger kids, called Blue Bonnet, with extra funding for schools that pick it up. A final vote hits in June, and if it passes, these changes roll out in 2030. This could spark a nationwide ripple, reshaping how states handle religion and reading in schools. Keep an eye on it as the debate heats up.